Vikipeedia:GLAM/Estonia-Poland relations/2

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Estonian students in Poland on the example of corp! Wäinla

After the end of Estonian War of Independence, the young Estonian state desperately needed top-class engineers, architects, and many other specialists with technical knowledge to construct their country and at the same time restore the roads, bridges, and industry that had suffered in the war. Although Tallinn Technical College started operating in Estonia in 1918, it was clearly underdeveloped at the beginning and many of the lectors did not have teaching experience, which is why many Estonians interested in technology were looking towards foreign universities. One of the most popular among such destinations due to its proximity, recognized lectors and favorable economic situation was the Gdańsk University of Technology, located in the free city of Gdańsk, where already in 1921 more than 30 Estonians studied.

In 1924, Estonians who studied in Gdańsk founded the student association Wäinla. The original aim of the association was to unite Estonians studying in Gdańsk in order to maintain their national spirit and at the same time develop the moral behavior of these young Estonians, since every Estonian studying abroad was like an ambassador for their newly independent country. After a few years, however, the company became a corporation and its activities expanded to other major cities in Central Europe, as the values offered by Wäinla were also convenient for Estonians studying at other foreign universities. In addition to Gdańsk, the liveliest Estonians were the ones who studied in Brno, Warsaw, and Vienna. In addition they founded Wäinla convents in each of the cities mentioned earlier, while in the interwar period the corporation also had members in many other European universities.

Whether the reason behind it was Baltic Germans being defeated by Estonians in the Landeswehr war, Estonian land reform, where the manors and lands of many Baltic Germans were nationalized, or simply the political aftermath of the First World War, but the attitude towards Estonians remained quite indifferent among the German students at this time. However, in addition to the Germans, a considerable amount of Poles also studied in Gdańsk, adding up to about a fifth of the students in total, whose attitude towards Estonians was much warmer. As early as 1926, a cartel agreement (basically a friendship agreement) was established between the Polish corporation Z.A.G. Wisła, whose ranks included, for example, Leopold Skulski, who had been the Prime Minister of Poland for a short time. Wäinla’s close contact with other Gdańsk student organizations such as corporations Helania and Rosevia is also worth mentioning. Estonian and Polish students celebrated the independence day of Estonia together at the honorary consul Witold Kukowski’s manor in Orłowo near Sopot, where, in addition to the Estonian and Polish students, local diplomats were also welcome. Of course, common events took place more than once a year, including anniversaries, parties, and simply spending free time together, which ensured that the friendship between many Estonians and Poles lasted even after university studies.

While in Gdańsk students studied in German, in Warsaw the teaching was exclusively done in Polish, which unlike German, was initially quite incomprehensible to many Estonians. So, in addition to learning expert knowledge, Estonian students there also had to quickly learn Polish. However, local social activities supported learning Polish a lot. The students lived together in dormitories, where, of course, parties were organized. At the parties, Estonians got to know the Polish academic family and it quickly became clear how important dance skills were in the Polish academic community. The anniversary of the Republic of Estonia was also celebrated in Warsaw, namely a festive reception was organized at the embassy. In addition to Z.A.G. Wisła's friends Wäinla’s members also got along really well with members of Aquilonia. For example Estonians and Poles held many events, like beer and essay evenings, together in Warsaw, but also various castles, parks, museums, and churches were visited, and of course Estonians could practise their Polish language skills. In the autumn of 1939, however, Estonians' studies in Poland were interrupted by the beginning of World War II.

Sources

Eesti Korporatsioonide Liit 50. Toronto, 1966.
Välis Eesti Korp! Wäinla 1924–1979. Toronto, 1980.

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